Government borrowings

Solomon Islands

Coalition faces collapse

THE Solomon islands Coalition Partnership government appears to be collapsing with more ministers resigning .Agriculture and Fisheries minister Edmound Andresen and Sports, Youth and Women’s Development Minister Alfred Maetia resigned on October 4 from the 18-month old National Coalition Partnership government.

Their resignations came only a week after two other ministers resigned, Oliver Zapo, former Provincial Government and Rural Development minister and former Education and Training minis ter John Musuota.

The latest resignations bring the government’s support to only 19 seats in the 47-seat parliament.

The opposition group for National Unity and Reconciliation said it has the numbers to take over the government. It’s claiming 24 seats and says the ministers who have resigned have indicated their willingness to join the opposition.

Government borrowings

illegal says Court

THE Solomon Islands High Court ruled on October 4 that further borrowing by the government be declared null and void in advance. Chief Justice John Muria made the ruling following dec larations sought by Opposition Finance spokesman, Christopher Columbus Abe, that the government had borrowed an amount of money beyond what was allowed under law. Abe was, however, granted only three of the six declarations sought.

They included declarations that the government had contra vened the Appropriations Act when it obtained the loan without the authority of parliament, that further borrowing be declared null and void, and that it was a breach of the Constitution.

Justice Muria, however, refused suggestions that the government had exceeded its borrowing powers during the over-borrowing incident as the finance minister is required to table supplemen tary appropriation bills when that happens..

He also dismissed a point that former finance minister Andrew Nori had breached his obligation when he allowed the govern ment to borrow in excess of SUS 6 million as required under the Appropriations Act.